MANCHESTER United were last night crowned champions of the English Premiership for the fourth time in five years as Liverpool's title challenge ended with a 2-1 defeat at Wimbledon.
Goals from 20-year-old striker Jason Euell and Dean Holdsworth handed the championship to United. And despite a late goal from substitute striker Michael Owen, Alex Ferguson can relax and enjoy the visit of Newcastle to Old Trafford tomorrow night.
Newcastle are also out of the title race after their goalless draw at West Ham, but are favourites for the runners-up spot and a place in next season's Champions' League if they upset the coronation party.
United's thoughts, too, will now turn to the continent again and Ferguson's promise to make amends for defeat in the Champions' League semi-final at the hands of Borussia Dortmund last month.
That prize continues to elude the United boss and very nearly knocked his side from the championship trail when a nightmare week in October saw them beaten 5-0 at Newcastle and then 6-3 at lowly Southampton.
But a grim determination in adversity has always been Ferguson's trademark and the United supremo came out battling to guide his side into the last four in the Champions' League, as well as back into the thick of the domestic title race.
There have been more hiccoughs along the way defeats at Sunderland (2-1) and at home to Derby (3-2) kept Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle believing but the championship was as good as won when United humiliated their great Anfield rivals 3-1 on Merseyside three weeks ago.
Ferguson's appeal for an extension to the domestic season because of the back-log of games was turned down flat by the Premier League and United needed two more mammoth efforts to gain draws at Leicester, after going 2-0 down, and at home to Middlesbrough, after trailing 3-1.
But twice they came back and now the title is theirs without even lifting another weary boot.
Ferguson spoke of the "great pride" he felt after his side claimed the crown. The United boss preferred not to watch Liverpool's game on television and admitted afterwards that he suspected that the title could be heading to Old Trafford last night.
He said: "I had a feeling it was two difficult games for Liverpool and Newcastle. West Ham are fighting for survival and you never get an easy game against Wimbledon.
"I thought one of them (Liverpool and Newcastle) would have some damage done to them but the two of them is fantastic for us."
Ferguson added that this year's success was even sweeter than his previous three title wins at United.
"It does get better because you have to live up to expectations and of course as each season comes along the demands get greater," he said.
"The great thing about it is that we have had a Champions' League campaign to contend with and we have coped with that very well and they have managed to maintain the challenge in the league which is not easy.
"It has given me great pride."
Newcastle striker Alan Shearer was the first to pay tribute to United after his side conceded the title at Upton Park.
"I think it was over a while ago, actually," admitted Shearer, whose Newcastle debut following his £15 million move from Blackburn last summer was a 4-0 thumping from United in the Charity Shield.
"They are the best team in the country and have been for many years now. It's up to everyone to try and catch them and that's exactly what we will try to do."
Newcastle manager Kenny Dalglish, who denied United the title in 1995 when boss of Blackburn, followed Shearer in saluting the champions. "They are the best team with the best players and they have proved it with points," he said.
"I just hope they have had a bit of champagne when they play us on Thursday. We've still got a chance of second place and we will give it our best shot.
"We worked hard again tonight and it was a fair result. Now we've got to see if Les Ferdinand, David Ginola and Robert Lee can recover in time from their injuries to be considered for Thursday's match."
Old Trafford director Sir Bobby Charlton believed that it was only a matter of time until United claimed the championship again. "Thanks very much to Wimbledon and thanks also to West Ham for making it easier for us," he said.
"But I think we were the best team and we would have won it anyway. It's a great achievement our fourth title in five years. It's very difficult to do, to get one title never mind to do it like that. It's been a great year for us.
"We thought it would be tough for Liverpool and we thought it would be tough for Newcastle, but the scores have gone well for us.
"With two matches still to play and the title in the bag, it's a little bit easier than we thought it might be.
"Our young players have grown enormously, they are still getting better and we have got other young players to come in hopefully. The club is getting major success and we hope it continues."
But Charlton admitted that the title did not give him as much satisfaction as previous championships. "Maybe it's a little bit of complacency, may be we are getting used to winning the title, but the pressure is always there."
